Robson Conceição and O’Shaquie Foster are officially ready to carry it back.
Their long-rumored reunion is confirmed for November 2nd on ESPN+ from Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York. The fight will come five months after Conceição won a highly questionable split decision to claim the WBC 130-pound title.
“Conceição and Foster are eager to prove themselves after their initial bout,” said Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum. “This rematch is about putting things right. Both want to show who is the better man, which will make for an exciting, competitive match, with the winner positioning themselves for a chance at a unification match.”
Brazil’s Conceição (19-2-1, 9 KOs) clinched a major title with his fourth try, but few people agreed with the center. The three-time Olympian and 2016 gold medalist dethroned Foster (22-3, 12 KOs) on July 6 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
Most observers believed that Foster had done enough where he should have retained his title for a third time. Only one judge agreed with that position, while two of the three cards ended up in Conceição’s favor.
“I am fully focused and ready for my first title defense,” said Conceição. “Every fight is a new opportunity to prove myself, and on November 2nd I will enter the ring with the same determination and hunger that brought me here.
“I respect O’Shaquie Foster, but I will show why I am the real champion. My team and I have worked tirelessly, and I am confident that our efforts will be rewarded again. Foster, don’t run into the ring! See you in Verona!”
Foster was already at a disadvantage when he first defended the belt last October 28. A dramatic 12th round knockout of Eduardo ‘Rocky’ Hernandez came on the road in Cancun, Mexico. The DAZN card was staged by Matchroom Boxing, Hernandez’s promoter. Foster overcame all odds to retain the belt, eight months after outpointing Rey Vargas on a PBC show in San Antonio, Texas.
After the win over Hernandez, Foster signed a promotional contract with Top Rank. His first fight under that banner came in a February 16 victory over Abraham Nova (23-3, 16 KOs). However, he was considered highly unlucky not to repeat the fight against Conceição.
“I can’t wait for November 2,” Foster insisted. “I’m ready to go there and make a statement. That bad decision awakened something in me, and now all I can think about is the ‘come back’.
“I want to thank everyone who insisted that the right thing be done. Now the focus is to become a two-time champion.”
UNDER CARD ACTION
Also confirmed for the show, rising lightweight contender Raymond Muratalla (21-0, 16 KOs) takes on Jesus Perez (25-5, 18 KOs) in a ten-round bout.
Nova reappears in a ten-round junior lightweight scrap against Mexico’s Humberto Galindo (14-3-2, 11 KOs).
Locally based Bryce Mills (16-1, 5 KOs)—from nearby Liverpool—meets faded former title challenger Henry ‘Hank’ Lundy (32-14-1, 14 KOs) in an eight-round junior welterweight contest.
